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Monday, 30 October 2017

It occurred to me the other day that TLFG must be hitting some kind of anniversary and it turns out this blog became a six-year-old at the beginning of October.

How things have changed in that time.

Back then, 50 page impressions a day was a big thing to get excited about. Now at least 10 times that is a given (still not much I know but it'll do for me).

During that first season I was unemployed and childless so had a lot more time on my hands and went to games at all levels once or twice a week - I also had a QPR season-ticket as they returned to the Premier League after a 15-year absence. Consequently I did a lot of groundhopping and the reviews appeared here. Nowadays I leave that task mainly to you dear readers or other bloggers who are happy to have their work promoted here.

A free cuppa you say? What a fine start to the weekend

Back then the guide used to feature a TLFG Top 10 which fairly strictly had one game and one game only from each of the 10 levels this blog covers. You could therefore see a game played on little more than a park pitch recommended over one in the Premier League but times have changed.

Over the years I'm pleased to say women's football has grown significantly in popularity and made its way into TLFG, various other pages/indexes have been added and several clubs have come and gone at non-league level.

It also says something that on week one of this blog, the top match in London was a game between a struggling Arsenal side and Sunderland who were both in the bottom six - the Gunners won 2-1.

There have been lots of other moments but it has definitely had a big impact on my life. Not only do I know more about football in this city than I ever have but I have made some amazing contacts and experienced some great football moments both here and in Europe as a result.

Apart from that, the other main highlights have all been in the form of feedback I've received from you. The whole purpose of this blog is to promote London football and make it as accessible to you as possible so when I hear or read that people have acted on advice I've given them and had a great time, then it makes all the effort that goes into this really worthwhile.

To coincide with the First Round of the FA Cup, we've got this interesting game

On average this blog takes about eight hours a week to put together and often takes me well past my self-imposed midnight deadline on Sunday night/Monday morning as I try to cram in as much as possible while doing shift work - but if I didn't enjoy it then I wouldn't do it.

It's also my birthday this week so hopefully I'll get to indulge in some live football at some point and tell you all about it on Sunday.

Ok I think that's enough from me, enjoy your week and let me know what you've been up to - photos are always welcome on TLFG's Facebook page.

UPDATE: (02/11/17): If you're at a loose end on Sunday, it's just come to TLFG's attention that there's an historic match taking place in East London where the re-formed Upton Park FC will be playing Clapham Rovers in a re-enactment of the match which produced the first ever goal in the history of the FA Cup back in 1871. The match is being played in West Ham Park where the original tie was played. It will also be the first time Upton Park FC have played at their old home ground for over 100 years so it should be quite an occasion. It kicks off at 115pm and it's free to get in.

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days as the Champions League, Premier League and Championship take centre stage. It's also a big week of cup football with the next round of the FA Cup taking place and a number of FA Trophy replays too.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.Monday 30 OctoberFA Trophy First Qualifying Round Replay - this national knockout cup competition is for sides in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley. At this stage the draw is regionalised and limited to clubs in the seventh and eighth tiers. The winning clubs in each tie will receive £3,250 in prize moneyHaringey Borough v Harrow Borough @745pm - eighth tier Haringey nearly pulled off a cupset on Saturday but were denied by a last-minute equaliser. Back on their own 3G pitch and in great form, it could be tough for Harrow in this 'Battle of the Boros'Professional Development League
Earlier in the day there are also U23 games at QPR and Watford. As it stands both games are being played at the clubs' training grounds. If you do want to go, please make sure you check the matches are still taking place, where and when they're being played and if you'll be allowed in

-------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday 31 OctoberChampionshipFulham v Bristol City @745pm - the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is the place to be for the pick of the football action on Tuesday. In the south of the borough we have this interesting game between midtable Fulham who are only four points off a play-off spot and the team currently in fourthQueens Park Rangers v Sheffield United @745pm - a couple of miles north in Shepherd's Bush, QPR welcome the leaders. The Blades are top courtesy of Rangers' victory over their title rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday so Ian Holloway's team shouldn't be underestimated

EFL TrophyAFC Wimbledon v Luton Town @745pm - the Dons have made no secret of their dislike for this competition after academy sides from Premier League and Championship clubs were introduced last season. As a result they barely advertise these games (I can't find anything about tickets for the game on their website) and consequently attendances are pretty sparse. However, they've won their opening two games and top their group. Luton are just behind and on any other occasion this would be quite a big game as the Hatters play just outside London and used to be a top-flight club at the same time as the original Wimbledon. To clarify, thanks to Luton's website, tickets will be £10 and are only available on the gate

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round ReplaysThurrock v Kingstonian @745pm - there's an all-Bostik Premier tie to be enjoyed at Ship Lane where if we get anything close to a repeat of the 3-3 draw the two played out on Friday in the original game, we'll be very happy indeedEgham Town v Bowers & Pitsea @745pm - two play-off hopefuls from the parallel Evo-Stik East and Bostik North fought out a 1-1 draw on Saturday. On paper B&P would appear the slightly stronger but they've lost home advantage

--------------------------------------------------------------Wednesday 1 NovemberChampions LeagueTottenham Hotspur v Real Madrid @745pm - we're into November already but what a cracking way to start it with this sold out monster of a game at Wembley Stadium. Not many people gave Spurs much of a chance at the Bernabeu a couple of weeks ago but they recorded a fantastic 1-1 draw to go into this match as joint group leaders with the Spanish giants. A lot could depend on whether Tottenham's star striker Harry Kane will be fit in time to play after tweaking a hamstring last week

Uefa Youth LeagueTottenham Hotspur v Real Madrid @3pm - earlier in the day, the sides' U19 teams will also do battle at Spurs' training ground in Enfield. A small amount of tickets were available for this match but they have all been taken

EFL TrophyCharlton Athletic v Fulham U23 @745pm - your next best option if you want to see some professional footballers in action is this game at The Valley. As with the AFC Wimbledon game above, the crowd is likely to be small as the Addicks' first-team squad take on the Cottagers' youngsters. Tickets are £10

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round ReplayGrays Athletic v Cray Wanderers @745pm - the non-league option is over at Parkside where sides from the Bostik North and South meet for what should be a pretty even contest - the initial game produced an entertaining 2-2 draw

FA Women's Super League CupMillwall Lionesses v Arsenal @745pm - the hosts face a tough game against the Gunners who come from the division above. We are still at the group stage of the competition, with this being the second of four matches for each of the sides. The top two in the five-team group progress to the knockout stages. The match takes place at Fisher's ground in Rotherhithe and costs £5 for adults

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Thursday 2 NovemberEuropa LeagueArsenal v Red Star Belgrade @745pm - Arsene Wenger's side are undoubtedly the strongest side in Group H and should beat last season's Serbian League runners-up. Having won the reverse fixture 10 days ago, the Gunners come into this game with a 100% record from their three matches and are already five points clear at the top

------------------------------------------------------------------Friday 3 NovemberSouthern Counties East League Premier DivisionGlebe v Beckenham Town @745pm - get your weekend underway with this south-east London derby in Chislehurst. The hosts have recently installed former Dagenham & Redbridge captain Anwar Uddin as manager. The first British Asian to captain one of 'the 92', he is also the Diversity & Campaigns Manager working on the 'Fans for Diversity' project which is run by the Football Supporters Federation and Kick It Out. This game is being dedicated to that cause and to entice you along, all spectators will get a 'free cuppa at Half Time'

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Saturday 4 NovemberPremier LeagueWest Ham United v Liverpool @530pm - after seeing his side mount a remarkable comeback at Spurs in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, Slaven Bilic was just moments away from a perfect week when Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha plundered a 96th-minute equaliser to deny the Hammers another derby win. With five goals in two games, West Ham are looking much better than they did against Brighton just over a week ago and will fancy themselves to get something against the Reds' suspect defence

ChampionshipBrentford v Leeds United @530pm - at exactly the same time on the opposite side of London we have what could be a humdinger of a game in the second tier. The Bees are in lower midtable but are potentially a side on the rise after stringing together a seven-game unbeaten run. I say potentially because four of those games have been draws and it's holding them back. Leeds, on the other hand, made a great start and are up in fifth but on a worrying slide with four defeats from five. Brentford also have a great home record against the Yorkshire club with their last defeat coming nine games ago, way back in 1950!Millwall v Burton Albion @3pm - tickets for the match above will be hard to get without membership or a previous purchasing history but there shouldn't be any problem getting one for this game. That's because it isn't a particularly mouthwatering prospect. Respectively 15th and 22nd in the table, they've managed only 25 goals between them so far this season which is less than one a game

FA Cup First Round - with the qualifying rounds completed we've reached that magic moment when the surviving non-league clubs get the chance to play against professional sides from League One and League Two. In some cases, this can mean some of the minnows taking part in the biggest match in their history. Not only is this prestigious but it nets the smaller sides thousands of pounds in gate receipts and prize money which can prove to be transformational if invested wisely. The winners of each tie will receive a cheque for £18,000. AFC Wimbledon v Lincoln City @3pm - both these clubs are associated with FA Cup magic. The Dons famously won the competition in 1988 beating a seemingly unstoppable Liverpool side 1-0 in a dramatic final to cause one of the greatest cup upsets of my lifetime. Whilst the Imps, as a non-league side, made it all the way to the quarter-finals last season seeing off the likes of Ipswich, Brighton and Burnley before finally losing to eventual winners Arsenal at the Emirates. Now back in League Two, Lincoln are pushing for promotion again and should prove to be tricky opponents for the hosts who are struggling in the division aboveBoreham Wood v Blackpool @3pm - the more romantic tie is to be found at Meadow Park where non-leaguers Boreham Wood welcome former Premier League side and FA Cup winners Blackpool. The Seasiders fielded a very entertaining side in their one season in the top flight back in 2010/11 but some terrible off-the-field shenanigans have seen the club plummet to League Two since then. Now back in the third tier and pushing for promotion, things are looking a bit more promising for the Lancashire club and they should win here. However, the Wood have a habit of making the first round and are no strangers to playing the big boys. Currently one of the top 10 sides in non-league football, the Hertfordshire side should give it a good go

Bostik League Premier DivisionHendon v Kingstonian @3pm - the Greens face a tricky game against the K's who have started the season well at their new temporary home in Leatherhead. Despite some upheaval off the pitch, the Surrey club are still in the top eight and win as many as they lose. If Hendon do triumph they could well return to the top of the tableThurrock v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - whether they do depends entirely on the Hamlet. With the main title challengers Billericay otherwise engaged in the FA Cup, Dulwich could potentially open up a six-point lead at the top if they vanquish lowly Thurrock

Bostik League North DivisionHaringey Borough v Dereham Town @3pm - after their fine FA Cup run, Haringey have seen a number of league matches postponed meaning they're only in fifth at the time of writing. With games in hand on most of the sides above them, they could well become title challengers. We'll get a good indication of how likely that is here as Dereham are the current leaders

Combined Counties League Premier DivisionSpelthorne Sports v Westfield @3pm - in my opinion, the pick of the action in the ninth tier is to be had over in Ashford where fifth-placed Spelthorne entertain the league leaders. Westfield, from Woking, are four points clear at the top with two games in hand and are averaging nearly three goals a game

Combined Counties League Division 1Staines Lammas v FC Deportivo Galicia @2pm - the hosts, with several games in hand, are well placed to push for promotion this year. Recently promoted FCDG have been more than holding their own at this level and made headlines this week by announcing the signing of veteran Spanish midfielder Quique de Lucas. The 39-year-old had a season at Chelsea in 2002/03 and also played many times for Espanyol, Alaves and Celta Vigo during a career totalling well over 500 appearances
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Premier LeagueChelsea v Manchester United @430pm - the week comes to an end on my birthday and the football schedulers obviously noticed this as there's a great selection of games. The biggest game of the weekend takes place at Stamford Bridge where two of the heavyweights of the Premier League slug it out in the teatime game. The reigning champions are finding things relatively tough this season and struggled to get past struggling Bournemouth in Dorset on Saturday. Former Blues boss Jose Mourinho is likely to get a good reception on his return to Stamford Bridge but he'll be desperate to win this otherwise his current side could start to look like also-rans too.Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace @12pm - earlier in the day there's also an important London derby at Wembley. Both sides need the points to further their causes at either end of the table. Spurs should be strong favourites to win but with four points from three games, Roy Hodgson is starting to move Palace in the right direction

FA Cup First RoundCharlton Athletic v Truro City @2pm - the Addicks are fourth in League One so should stroll to victory against Truro. The Cornish side play three levels below their hosts but are the highest ranked club in the county's history and will have absolutely nothing to loseDartford v Swindon Town @2pm - in the other tie of the afternoon a side from the National League South host one from the fourth tier. With Swindon a former Premier League club, albeit for just one season over 20 years ago, this is also a prestigious occasion for the Darts. Both sides are chasing promotion in their respective divisions so come into the game in reasonable form - there's some real cupset potential here

FA Women's Super League CupArsenal v Reading @2pm - the pick of the women's action comes at Meadow Park where two of the country's top four sides meet for this group stage matchLondon Bees v Millwall Lionesses @2pm - a short journey to the south there's also a London derby in the same competition featuring two clubs from the second tier of the women's game

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Monday, 23 October 2017

Apologies again for the late publication this week - it's half term and things have got a bit behind schedule.

At this stage I thought I'd just get the match maps up and then I'll try and fill in the gaps a bit later today.

The action gets underway at lunchtime with some very interesting U23 games. Crystal Palace have a match at Selhurst Park against Coventry at 1pm but it's also the north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal at Spurs' training ground at midday. I'm cautious about encouraging you to go to this match as it could be behind closed doors - even now three hours before kick-off, neither club's website or social media is advertising it so be very sure it's on and you can get in before travelling.

Like I say, I'll endeavour to get the rest of the info up later today.

UPDATE: (23/10/17 @1610): TLFG's daily digest has now been added so normal service has now been resumed.

There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days as the Premier League and EFL take centre stage. It's also a big week of cup football with the next round FA Trophy taking place and a number county cup ties too.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.Monday 23 OctoberLondon Senior Cup First RoundHendon v Wingate & Finchley @745pm - one of the ties of the round pits these two near neighbours from north London against each other. You should also consider going to this game as vandals broke into Hendon's Silver Jubilee Park over the weekend and did thousands of pounds worth of damage and they've launched an appeal to raise funds for repairs

Bostik League South DivisionCarshalton Athletic v Greenwich Borough @745pm - an enticing looking fixture between two promotion contenders is your best option in south London on Monday

-------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday 24 OctoberEFL Cup Fourth RoundArsenal v Norwich City @745pm - the EFL Cup usually provides a great way to see the big teams play at home at a reduced price and this is the case here. Getting a ticket to see the Gunners at the Emirates is usually tough or very expensive without membership but there are still quite a few tickets available for £20. As for the match itself, Arsene Wenger usually rests quite a few players for these games so it could be quite even as Norwich are doing well in the Championship and will be well backed by several thousand travelling fans

National LeagueDagenham & Redbridge v Macclesfield Town @745pm - there are some great options in the fifth tier on Tuesday night but I'd personally go for this one on league placings. Only six points separate the top seven clubs in a really exciting title race. The Daggers were top for a bit but have dropped back a little while the Silkmen have become the current incumbents and opened a three-point lead after winning the first leg of their east London tour at Leyton Orient on Saturday

National League SouthHampton & Richmond Borough v St Albans City @745pm - after a poor start, the hosts have managed to string together a seven-match unbeaten run in the league. However, most of those games have ended in a draw meaning the Beavers are still way down in 15th. The Saints are currently joint top and, aside from a comprehensive home defeat to Boreham Wood in the FA Cup last week, are unbeaten in six themselves

Bostik League Premier DivisionEnfield Town v Leiston @745pm - the Towners usually find themselves in and around the battle for the play-offs but are way down the table at the moment courtesy of a decent run in the FA Cup. With four games in hand on the current leaders Hendon, they could and probably should make significant strides up the table. Leiston are likely to be one of the sides that also challenge and were top themselves a few weeks ago so this should be a decent game

Bostik League North DivisionAFC Hornchurch v Dereham Town @745pm - the game of the week in this division sees the sides currently ranked third and second go head-to-head. The Urchins should really be top but they've also enjoyed a decent run in the FA Cup and have three games in hand on the top two

Combined Counties League Premier DivisionWalton & Hersham v Bedfont Sports @745pm - the Swans came unstuck against leaders Westfield in the big game last week and then saw Bedfont thrash Chertsey at the weekend to move above them. Therefore this is, as above, a battle of third versus second and gives groundhoppers another chance to check out the new stadium W&H have recently relocated to

--------------------------------------------------------------Wednesday 25 OctoberEFL Cup Fourth RoundTottenham Hotspur v West Ham United @8pm - on paper this derby should be one of the ties of the round but given this competition is a low priority for Spurs and West Ham are playing really badly, tickets have not been selling all that well. As far as I understand it, the upper tier at Wembley won't open at all and there's still plenty of availability in the lower one. Tickets are cheap too with many available for £20 but you must be on their ticketing database or know a member/season-ticket holder to get oneChelsea v Everton @745pm - contrast that with this game at Stamford Bridge which is completely sold out. Again, this cup shouldn't be a priority for the Blues and the visitors are also playing badly so why the huge difference in interest? To be fair, Chelsea are playing at their own much 'smaller' stadium and the attendances could end up being quite similar

Bostik League North DivisionGrays Athletic v Haringey Borough @745pm - the best non-league option of the night is to be found at Aveley's ground where Haringey will attempt to win one of their games in hand to get their title challenge back on track

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Friday 27 OctoberPremier League 2Fulham v Norwich City @7pm - the weekend gets underway with an U23 game at the Cottagers' training ground which is very close to Motspur Park station. It's only £3 to get in and I'm told the facilities for spectators are pretty decent

------------------------------------------------------------------Saturday 28 OctoberPremier LeagueCrystal Palace v West Ham United @3pm - the game of the day in London is this crunch clash between two sides who are desperate for a win at the wrong end of the table. The Eagles opened the season with seven straight defeats and couldn't even manage a goal. Last week they sensationally beat Chelsea before battling hard but ultimately losing to a late goal at Newcastle on Saturday. These performances seem to indicate that things are improving under Roy Hodgson but the same can't be said about Slaven Bilic. His Hammers side gave a pretty abject performance against Brighton on Friday and it's believed he's been given two games to start turning things around. A defeat here might end his reign even soonerArsenal v Swansea City @3pm - once again there has been a lot of hand wringing from Arsenal fans this season but they are still in all the cups and gave Everton a good stuffing on Sunday to move up to fifth. Even at this early stage, a title bid still looks out of the question but a win over a mediocre Swansea side could propel them back into the top fourWatford v Stoke City @3pm - if you're not a member of any of the clubs above, this game still has a few tickets available on general sale so you should be able to get to see some Premier League football this weekend if you book swiftly. The Hornets have had a fine start to the season and could also find themselves back in the top four if they win and other results go their way

ChampionshipQueens Park Rangers v Wolverhampton Wanderers @3pm - the R's are currently joint second in the division for drawing games this season so although they're way down in 17th they are proving tough to beat. If Sheffield United fail to win at Leeds on Friday, Wolves will arrive at Loftus Road as leaders and will no doubt bring a large and lively following with themFulham v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - if you'd rather spend a more leisurely afternoon down by the river then pay Craven Cottage a visit. Fulham, who are still firmly in the hunt for a play-off place, should see off bottom club Bolton

League OneCharlton Athletic v AFC Wimbledon @3pm - if it's a London derby you want then get yourself down to The Valley for this south-east versus south-west affair. The smart money is definitely on the Addicks who are fourth and on a seven-game unbeaten run. For some reason, it's also 'Kids For A Quid' - bargain!

Premier League 2West Ham United v Manchester City @1pm - earlier in the day there's this rather strangely scheduled U23 fixture at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground. The kick-off time doesn't even let you get to another game unless you shave off the end of this one or the start of another one - Barking are the nearest club if you do attempt a 'double'

National LeagueSutton United v Ebbsfleet United @3pm - the biggest crowd of the day at this level locally is likely to be found at Gander Green Lane. Sutton are one of several teams to have briefly held top spot this season and a win over newly promoted Ebbsfleet, who are in the play-off hunt themselves, could put them right back in itBoreham Wood v Bromley @3pm - there's a cross-London derby at Meadow Park where two teams in the top eight will both look to advance their causes. Although their average attendances have increased significantly this year, the Wood are still getting the lowest crowds in the division so it is some achievement that they are continuing to more than hold their own at this level

National League SouthDartford v St Albans City @3pm - the title race in this division is even tighter than the division above with a ridiculously tiny three points separating the top eight clubs. At the time of writing, these two find themselves in that group so this should be one of the matches of the dayWelling United v Wealdstone @3pm - after the struggles of recent years it's not often you've been able to say that Welling are the form team of the division but that is currently the case. With six wins on the trot and two draws before that, they've climbed to fifth. The Stones, from west London, are unbeaten in six themselves and are also climbing the table quickly after an iffy start

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round - this knockout competition is for clubs who play in the fifth to eighth tiers of the national system. Seventh-tier teams enter the draw at this stage alongside those eighth-tier teams who survived the opening round. Winners of each tie earn £3,250 in prize money. There are several ties in London on Saturday, here are my pickHendon v Kings Langley @3pm - at the time of writing the Greens are top of the Bostik League meaning they should win this tie. The visitors, who hail from just north of Watford, play in the parallel Evo-Stik Premier but have made a poor startStaines Town v Margate @3pm - the hosts have made a bullish start to the season, enjoying a few big wins as they've cemented themselves a place in the top five of the Bostik Premier. Margate suffered relegation from the NLS last season and have yet to really get going so could come unstuck hereHarrow Borough v Haringey Borough @3pm - these two have surpassed all my expectations so far this season. Harrow only avoided relegation last season because of another club's poor finances so to see them in the top seven as we approach November is quite remarkable. When I started this blog a few years ago, Haringey were a pretty run of the mill Essex Senior League club, playing in a slightly shabby stadium in front of pretty meagre crowds. Since then they won that league, installed a 3G pitch and made the Bostik North play-offs last season. Challenging for promotion again and with a great run in the FA Cup also under their belts, they're looking strong and could cause an upset here

Southern Counties East League Division 1Sporting Club Thamesmead v K Sports @3pm - with not much of interest going on in the ninth tier, the best game in the 10th is this one. SC Thamesmead are currently fourth in this division, making them the best that London has to offer. This match will see them take on the current leaders

FA Women's Super League 2London Bees v Millwall Lionesses @2pm - if you'd rather see a women's game then this derby at The Hive (also home of Barnet) is the match for you
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunday 29 October

FA Trophy First Qualifying RoundThamesmead Town v Brightlingsea Regent @2pm - by virtue of their new groundshare arrangement with Dartford, Thamesmead look set to provide us with a fair bit of Sunday football entertainment this year, especially if they make progress in this competition. They've landed a tough tie here against a side from the division above but they held the mighty Billericay here a few weeks ago so should be more than capable of getting a result here

FA Women's Super League 1Chelsea v Yeovil Town @2pm - with three wins from three, the new season has begun well for Chelsea. Joint top with Manchester City and seemingly well settled at their new Kingsmeadow home, victory against the struggling Glovers should be a formality

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Sunday, 15 October 2017

After all the busyness of preparing for Non-League Day last week, things have been far less eventful.

I'm currently on a seven-day run (Tuesday-Monday) of late shifts at work so football has been well and truly off the menu for me this week - I'm heading in again shortly so need to finish up quick.

However, I have a week off from next Sunday and with no firm plans at the minute, a little voice inside me is saying 'Do a great London groundhop' - in other words, try and see a game every day for a week. Now I'm not even sure if there are games every day or whether my family will appreciate it but it would be a lot cheaper than going away somewhere and would get the lack of live football well and truly out of my system. Have you ever undertaken such a thing? What's your record for amount of games watched in a week?

I've actually got a couple of days off this week too and am very tempted by some of the matches on offer with Leyton Orient v Dagenham & Redbridge catching my eye in the FA Cup.

There's also a really great deal on offer at AFC Wimbledon where you can get into their League One match against Rotherham on Tuesday for only £10 if you download a voucher from their website.

There are also several good options in the U23 leagues this week which allow you to see a couple of games a day on Monday and Friday - there's also a 'double' possible on Saturday as well but you'll have to read on to find out where.

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next seven days as the Premier League and EFL take centre stage. It's also a big week of cup football with the next round FA Vase taking place and a number of FA Cup replays too.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.Monday 16 OctoberPremier League 2Arsenal v Sunderland @7pm - the biggest crowd of the day will be found at the Emirates Stadium for this U23 game. The Gunners are currently third and looking to cut the gap on Liverpool and Everton who currently lead the way. Like the first team, the Mackems' youngsters are also having a tough season. Tickets are only £4 but must be purchased online by 3pm on Monday - no tickets will be available on the nightProfessional Development League
Earlier in the day there are also U23 games at Charlton Athletic (@The Valley), Millwall (@Dartford FC) and Watford (@Vicarage Road). All can be combined easily with the match above, however, details on admission are sketchy at the time of writing and venues can change at short notice so check with the clubs what the details are before travelling

Bostik League North DivisionHaringey Borough v Maldon & Tiptree @745pm - the hosts suffered the disappointment of an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round home defeat to Heybridge on Saturday but get the chance to bounce back straight away with this league game against one of their fellow promotion contenders

-------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday 17 OctoberLeague OneAFC Wimbledon v Rotherham United @745pm - the Dons managed to notch an absolutely crucial win at fellow strugglers Northampton on Saturday. Next up they welcome promotion contenders Rotherham who have won their last three. It's going to be tough and to help them put up a good fight, Wimbledon are offering tickets for just £10 in order to get a big crowd

League TwoBarnet v Mansfield Town @8pm - I have to confess having taken my eye off the Bees in recent weeks so it was quite a shock to discover they're down in the bottom four and in terrible form. A month or so ago they looked more likely to be pushing for promotion. Mansfield are slap bang in the middle of the table so are definitely beatable

FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replays - with the draw being made on Monday at 7pm, all the following sides will know who they'll potentially be playing in the next round. With League One and League Two sides in that draw, the remaining non-league sides could see themselves paired with former FA Cup winners Coventry City, Portsmouth or Wigan Athletic. The winners of each tie will also receive £12,500 in prize money so a lot is at stake. Also, all replays will go to extra-time and penalties if requiredLeyton Orient v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - if you missed the chance to see these two east London rivals meet on Saturday then you've got another chance on Tuesday after they ground out a 0-0 draw in the original tie. It's set to be very tight again but with the O's now unbeaten in eight against the Daggers, they should start as favouritesBromley v Dover Athletic @745pm - a little overshadowed by the game above, this Kent derby is also well worth a watch and features two sides who are actually in better form. The Lilywhites have had a good start and are up in seventh in the National League while Dover are just a point off top spot and have gone close to promotion several times in recent yearsEnfield Town v Maidstone United @745pm - on paper you'd think the Towners would've been pretty chuffed to have earned a replay at a side who play two levels above them. However, the match finished 2-2 after the Stones grabbed a last-minute equaliser. Has Enfield's chance been and gone? Get down to Donkey Lane to find out

Bostik League Premier DivisionHendon v Needham Market @745pm - the Greens nicked a 90th-minute winner over Tonbridge Angels on Saturday to move up to third. Victory here against struggling Needham could put them top if results go their way elsewhereDulwich Hamlet v Harlow Town @745pm - if Hendon do fail to capitalise then Dulwich also have a chance to climb to the summit of the Bostik League with a win here. Harlow have also been poor of late but managed a 2-1 win home win over Harrow on Saturday

Combined Counties League Premier DivisionWalton & Hersham v Westfield @745pm - one of the non-league matches of the week sees the top two in the CCL do battle at the newly opened Elmbridge Sports Hub. The visitors are currently two points clear with a game in hand and are averaging a staggering 4.7 goals a game! W&H have been great by most normal teams' standards but they're going to have to raise their game here

--------------------------------------------------------------Wednesday 18 OctoberChampions LeagueChelsea v Roma @745pm - the Blues come into this game on the back of what many would see as a very embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace who had looked pretty hopeless prior to playing them. Roma should provide a real step up in class. The Italian side are currently fifth in Serie A with five wins from seven games but have lost on both previous occasions that they have played at Stamford Bridge

Essex Senior LeagueSporting Bengal United v Clapton @745pm - the biggest crowd of the night for a non-league game will probably be found at the Mile End Stadium where a large contingent of the Clapton Ultras will almost certainly put in an appearance. With a boycott of home games still continuing, the Ultras make even more of an effort to get to the away ones especially local derbies like this - an attendance of 300-350 is quite possible

Spartan South Midlands League Premier DivisionOxhey Jets v Berkhamsted @730pm - the hosts have made a steady start to the campaign and are up in 10th but they'll have to be at their best for the visit of the league leaders

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1London Lions v Southall @8pm - in the division below it's also 10th versus first. It's a real shame that Southall's plans to groundshare with Hayes & Yeading fell through as they've been forced all the way out to Burnham to play their home games. It seems to be working well for them on the pitch but it means they're no longer in TLFG's catchment area - hopefully they'll be back next year

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Friday 20 OctoberPremier LeagueWest Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion @8pm - the weekend gets underway with an important match between sides looking to put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three. The Hammers picked up a draw at Burnley over the weekend as did Brighton against Everton. The last time these sides met back in 2012, West Ham crushed the Seagulls 6-0 at Upton Park

Professional Development LeagueQueens Park Rangers v Ipswich Town @2pm - if you're in London for the game above you could combine it with this game at Loftus Road earlier in the day. Entry to these matches is often free but as with all U23 games, check with the club before you travel to make sure of all the details

Combined Counties League Premier DivisionBedfont Sports v Chertsey Town @745pm - this match near Heathrow Airport provides the only non-league option of the night. This ground, along with Bedfont & Feltham's next door, is famous for being a great place to watch football and airliners as it's less than 700m from the runway

------------------------------------------------------------------Saturday 21 OctoberPremier LeagueChelsea v Watford @1230pm - after seeing Arsenal slain at Vicarage Road on Saturday, Antonio Conte will know his side can't afford to be complacent against this highly combative Watford side. And why should they be? Marco Silva's Hornets are now above Chelsea in the table and pushing for a place in the Champions League!

ChampionshipBrentford v Sunderland @3pm - neither of the Championship matches on offer this weekend are particularly mouthwatering. Normally the visit of Sunderland, one of the biggest clubs in the division would be quite a big deal, but they've been in dreadful form since relegation from the Premier League. Nonetheless they are still well supported and the ground should be close to capacityMillwall v Birmingham City @530pm - for some reason this match has been selected for live TV. Neither side have been pulling up any trees this season and Birmingham have been particularly bad, however, they did manage a superb victory over Cardiff on Friday so maybe they've turned the corner. The late kick-off could also see you combine this with the game at Dulwich Hamlet which kicks off at 3pm - there's a 1707 train from East Dulwich after the game which should get you to The Den just in time

League OneAFC Wimbledon v Plymouth Argyle @3pm - after facing promotion contenders Rotherham in midweek, the Dons then play Plymouth in a hugely important relegation six-pointer. The hosts are currently fourth from bottom while Argyle are rock bottom - a must-win game for both

League TwoBarnet v Yeovil Town @3pm - in the division below, there's another game between two strugglers although the Glovers are in a far more healthy position than Plymouth

National LeagueBromley v Woking @3pm - there are three games in the London area on Saturday in this division and they're all important, especially when you consider only six points separate the top 10 clubs. First up the Lilywhites have this derby against Woking. At the time of writing this represents a battle of seventh versus third so a win for the Cards could send them to the topDagenham & Redbridge v Wrexham @3pm - I'm pretty sure both of these top six sides have held a share of top spot at some point this season. The Welsh club are in marginally better form at the moment and boast the second highest levels of support in the whole of non-league football (only Tranmere get more). They may also be more refreshed as they don't have a midweek gameLeyton Orient v Macclesfield Town @3pm - last up is this game at Brisbane Road where the O's welcome the current leaders. Macclesfield have won five on the trot and demolished Stourbridge 5-0 away in the FA Cup on Saturday

National League SouthWealdstone v Truro City @3pm - after a dodgy start the Stones have turned things around under new manager Bobby Wilkinson and are gradually climbing the table. On Saturday they entertain title contenders Truro. Top a couple of weeks ago, City became the highest ranked Cornish club in history. On Saturday they saw off Hampton & Richmond to make the first round of the FA Cup so they've got some real momentum behind them

Bostik League Premier DivisionDulwich Hamlet v Burgess Hill Town @3pm - there are no real standout games in this division but if you're new to the non-league game and want a good experience then a trip to Champion Hill is always a good place to start. By the time this game kicks-off the Hamlet could be top of the league. Burgess Hill's lowly league position is also slightly false as they've been otherwise engaged in a great FA Cup run which sadly ended on Saturday. As mentioned above, you could combine this game with the 530pm kick-off at Millwall

Bostik League North DivisionGrays Athletic v Tilbury @3pm - neither side are having a stellar season on the pitch so far but I've picked this because it is a derby. The two Essex clubs have produced some feisty encounters over the years and there was even some trouble at a game in 2011. The fact Grays are currently groundsharing away from their home town might take some of the sting out of it but maybe not

Bostik League South DivisionWhyteleafe v Greenwich Borough @3pm - the game of the day in this division takes place on the 3G of Church Road. Third plays fourth as they look to keep pace with early leaders Lewes. Interestingly, both sides have scored 26 and conceded 13 this season but the Leafe have played a game more

Evo-Stik League East DivisionHayes & Yeading United v AFC Rushden & Diamonds @3pm - two clubs who have seen very much better days meet at the SkyEx on Saturday. As regular readers know, H&YU have suffered three relegations during the time I have been writing this blog to fall all the way down from what is now the National League. Fans of the visitors would have been watching what was their side (simply Rushden & Diamonds) in the third tier as recently as 2004. Since then the club dissolved and had to be re-formed by fans back in non-league. As a result of this history, the club is the biggest in the division in terms of support with average crowds of nearly 500 so a good attendance is expected

FA Vase First Round - with the two qualifying rounds out of the way, the knockout competition for clubs in tiers 9-11 of the national system really starts to hot up. The winners of each tie receive a cheque for £825. There are several ties in London on Saturday - here are the ones which stand out for meCray Valley PM v Cricklewood Wanderers @3pm - as one of the only 11th-tier teams left in the competition, Cricklewood face a very tough journey to ninth-tier Cray who will definitely start as favouritesEdgware Town v Walton & Hersham @3pm - an interetsing inter-league match at Edgware's well appointed Silver Jubilee Park. Aside from Westfield, Walton & Hersham are one of the strongest teams in the CCL so it will be interesting to see how they fare against SSML oppositionSpelthorne Sports v Lordswood @3pm - teams from the top six of the CCL and SCEFL meet in Sunbury so another good chance to try and gauge which league is strongerCobham v Westfield @3pm - the hosts play a division below their all-conquering visitors. As leaders of the fifth tier CCL, Westfield should in theory be one of the favourites to win the VaseEnfield Borough v Newmarket Town @3pm - the Panthers' blisteringly good start has slowed down marginally but they're still doing well in the SSML1 and should provide a very stern test for Newmarket who are one of the frontrunners in the Eastern Counties League, one level above themLondon Lions v Clapton @3pm - the Lions did really well to see of Malmesbury in the last round and have been rewarded with a London derby against the Tons. As mentioned above, Clapton's fans will probably travel in large numbers so expect a lively atmosphere at Rowley Lane
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunday 22 October

Premier LeagueTottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @4pm - the football week comes to an end with arguably its highlight. Two members of the Premier League royal family meet at Wembley for one of the only Spurs games so far this season to have sold out. On paper Tottenham should win but their record at the national stadium in big games is poor and the Reds, on their day, are more than capable of winning

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Monday, 9 October 2017

My participation in Non-League Day has meant the last week has been incredibly hectic and I've had very little time to work on this blog.

UPDATE: 11/10/17The blog is now ready to go - three days late so here it is. Fill your boots!
First up apologies for what must be the latest ever publication of TLFG.

Thankfully this was entirely the result of what turned out to be a fantastically successful Non-League Day.

Things got really busy, really early in a way they never have before and consequently this blog has been put on the backburner a bit in recent weeks.

Yours truly puts in an appearance at Sky Sports News HQ

The main events of last week for me were a couple of appearances on Sky Sports News (where I shared the make-up room with Kirsty Gallagher), an early morning trip to BBC Broadcasting House to be on Radio 5 live (where I ran into and caught up with the doyenne of sports broadcasting that is Caroline Barker) and a cameo appearance in an article in The Times.

After some excellent discussions with the Premier League, they and their member clubs delivered some superb support for NLD in the form of programme and internet articles and social media posts. Having the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United (to name just four) backing the cause made a big difference. There was also good support from EFL clubs too, some of which even had games of their own on the day but still happily helped out.

Thankfully the charity angle worked really well for the first time with clubs' fundraising efforts for Prostate Cancer UK and other good causes raising thousands of pounds across the country.

On the football front, I attended two games on the day. First up I went to Dulwich Hamlet v Needham Market in the Bostik Premier.

It was with heavy heart that I didn't go to watch Harrow Borough v Kingstonian but by Thursday the club had shown no sign of engaging with the day so I committed to Dulwich instead who couldn't have done more.

With a 'Pay What You Like' deal in place and all profits going to local charities, a large crowd was guaranteed. On arrival at the ground, the queue snaked up from the car wash and into the Sainsbury's car park in a way I'd never seen despite many big games at Champion Hill in recent years. The queue was so big that stewards directed us to the other side of the ground to go through another turnstile reserved for big occasions.

Sky Sports News pay a visit to Dulwich Hamlet on Non-League Day

Aside from a penalty miss by Needham, the game itself was a bit of a stroll for the Hamlet who scored a goal minutes either side of the fluffed chance to win 2-0.

But what was the eventual attendance I hear you cry? A very healthy 2,417 - over a thousand more than average so I think we can say that went well.

With this game complete, I then made my way across town to Feltham for the evening game between PFC Victoria London and North Acton.

I don't think I've ever been to a 12th tier game before but that's exactly what this Middlesex County League match was.

Only founded last year, PFC (a club mainly for Polish players) won promotion at the first attempt and also won a cup too. In winning that cup, they drew a crowd of several hundred so it was ambitiously decided to try and get 1,000 to attend on NLD with the kick-off pushed back to try and make it possible.

The team groundshare with Hanworth Villa and there was hardly a sign of anyone when I arrived with a friend about 20-30 minutes before kick-off.

With the teams finally out on the pitch, the ground did fill up a bit but there was nowhere near the four-figure crowd that was hoped for.

It was a shame because an action-packed 90 minutes ensued.

Wild tackles flew in, the managers scrapped on the touchline, chances aplenty were created but until fairly late in the game it remained goalless.

The PFC Victoria ultras celebrate after watching their side open the scoring

Eventually, a well crafted and crisply finished goal was taken by the hosts causing the handful of ultras behind the goal to unleash a pyro show similar to that that you'd find at any Ekstraklasa game albeit on a smaller scale.

Although delighting most of the spectators, it saw the referee suspend play and order them to be moved from behind the goal which they complied with after being persuaded by one of the players.

Ultimately the game ended 1-0 and the majority of the crowd went home happy. Club officials guestimated there were around 350-400 there and with it being free entry it would be impossible to get a precise figure - I just strolled in through a side entrance. Personally I think it looked more like 150-200 but either way it was still a stunning attendance for a game at this level.

On the downside, I heard on Monday that the club had received a hefty fine for the pyrotechnics and North Acton tweeted that their players had been threatened and abused by members of the crowd during the game. Whether this was the case and what form this abuse took is unclear but it was particularly disappointing to hear this as 'Kick It Out' had chosen it as only one of six games nationwide to promote their message.

Overall though, it was a fine day. NLD received lots of great feedback from the public and our partners. Amazingly #nonleagueday was number 2 trend on Twitter in the UK for the whole of Saturday and 11th worldwide which has never happened.

Needless to say, preparations are already under way for next year.

If you supported the day by going to a game and/or promoted our message in some way then thanks very much I really, really appreciate it.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days as the Premier League and Championship make their return. One of the highlights of the week is the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round - the final hurdle that the remaining non-league clubs have to negotiate before going into the hat with the League 1 and League 2 teams. The tie of the round locally is the mouthwatering east London derby between Dagenham & Redbridge and Leyton Orient.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you traveljust in case a game has been called offor venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

--------------------------------------------------------------Wednesday 11 OctoberBostik League North DivisionGrays Athletic v Potters Bar Town @745pm - the top ranked match in the men's game takes place at Aveley. On paper it would appear that it's not much to get excited about as Grays are down near the bottom and PBT in midtable

Combined Counties League CupColliers Wood United v Balham @730pm - down at the Wibbandune we've got a groundshare derby to look forward to between two ninth-tier teams

Essex Senior League CupWest Essex v Basildon United @745pm - two of the ESL's top four meet in the opening round of the league's knockout cup competition

FA Women's Premier League SouthernCharlton Athletic v West Ham United @745pm - you could argue that this is the football event of the day as it's a derby and takes place at The Valley

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Thursday 12 OctoberFA Women's Super League CupArsenal v London Bees @730pm - women's football tops the bill on Thursday night as the Gunners entertain their local rivals at Boreham Wood
------------------------------------------------------------------Friday 13 OctoberPremier League 2Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City @1pm - Spurs' U23 side are having a poor season and are currently bottom of their division, whilst the Foxes are up in the top four. This game will take place at the club's impressive training ground but check before you travel that you will be admitted as it is unclear at this stageFulham v Stoke City @7pm - a much safer bet is this match at the Cottagers' training ground. It is open to the public, the facilities for spectators are pretty decent, it's easy to get to and only £3 for adults
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Saturday 14 OctoberPremier LeagueCrystal Palace v Chelsea @3pm - the Eagles have made the worst possible start, losing all seven without scoring a goal. Things are unlikely to get any better on Saturday when the league champions pay a visit. If Roy Hodgson's men get anything out of this, it will be quite an achievementWatford v Arsenal @530pm - there's another derby at Vicarage Road where two of the top eight do battle. Only a point currently separate them in the table which shows how far Watford have come in recent years and/or Arsenal have fallenTottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth @3pm - the two games above will be tough to get tickets for, but that's not the case at Wembley where you'll find it very straightforward to get in. Spurs are unbeaten in five, up in third and should have way too much for the CherriesChampionshipBrentford v Millwall @3pm - there's a cracking London derby to look forward to at Griffin Park. However, because it's a small ground and security will be tight, you'll need to have a purchasing history with the Bees to be able to buy a ticket for this oneFulham v Preston North End @3pm - the alternative at Craven Cottage is a good one as two of the top 10 meet in the battle for a play-off spot

League OneCharlton Athletic v Doncaster Rovers @3pm - the Addicks made a great start but then ran into a rough patch. They managed to arrest that slump with a solid win at Fleetwood and could make further inroads into the top six with a win here

FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round - the country's top cup competition has reached a critical point. At this stage the National League sides enter the draw alongside all the remaining lower ranked non-league sides. The winners progress to the First Round 'proper', where they will go into the draw against all the clubs in League One and League Two, and also receive £12,500 in prize money. Dagenham & Redbridge v Leyton Orient @3pm - undoubtedly the tie of the round in these parts as two East End clubs from the National League meet at Victoria Road. They've met many times over the last 25 years since D&R formed and it's the O's who have had the upper hand - currently the Brisbane Road club are unbeaten in seven against their local rivalsHampton & Richmond Borough v Truro City @3pm - a struggling Beavers side travelled down to Cornwall on Saturday for a National League South game against Truro. They managed to force a draw and unseated Truro from top spot in the process. This time they'll have home advantage so could go one better and beat themHaringey Borough v Heybridge Swifts @3pm - the final tie in London pits two of the best teams from the Bostik North against each other. Coming from the eighth tier, these are a couple of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition and for either to make the first round would be some achievement

Bostik League Premier DivisionStaines Town v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - the match of the day in the seventh tier can be found at Wheatsheaf Lane where sixth-placed Staines take on a Dulwich side who will go top if they win

Bostik League North DivisionAFC Hornchurch v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - there's an even more crucial game in the eighth tier where the Urchins, in second, entertain the team who are third. Only goal difference currently separates them and with both being from Essex, there's a bit of a derby flavour to this one too

Bostik League South DivisionCray Wanderers v Corinthian Casuals @3pm - formed in 1860, the hosts are believed to be the oldest club in London. On Saturday they take on another historic club as they look to keep pace with the other play-off contenders

Evo-Stik League East DivisionAshford Town (Middlesex) v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm - the Tangerines are leading the charge in this division from a TLFG perspective. Up in fifth and with games in hand on all those above them, things are looking good. H&YU have always been the more senior club but recent times have been tough and start this derby as underdogs

Essex Senior LeagueBarkingside v Ilford @3pm - these two groundsharers are locked together in midtable as we head into what I will dramatically title the 'Seven Kings derby' (because it's the nearest station)Clapton v Great Wakering Rovers @3pm - after attracting a crowd of nearly 800 on Saturday for the 'away' game at Hackney Wick, the Old Spotted Dog will probably be pretty empty again for the visit of the league leaders. The Clapton Ultras are, as far as I know, still in dispute with the people running the club and will resume their boycott outside the ground

Spartan South Midlands League Premier DivisionWembley v Hoddesdon Town @3pm - the Lions finished fourth last season and are currently fourth again. That position makes them the top TLFG club in the division. The visitors are only a point behind but beating them could see a move up to second

Combined Counties League Division 1Staines Lammas v Eversley & California @3pm - the hosts welcome the league leaders to the Lucan Pavilion for this interesting top-four clashWorcester Park v Chessington & Hook United @3pm - regular title contenders Worcester Park will go top if they beat local rivals Chessington and Eversley come unstuck at Staines

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunday 15 October

Premier League 2West Ham United v Manchester United @1pm - I'm a huge believer that the country's top clubs should make more of their U23 games. Often poorly advertised or moved at short notice, some potentially great games are never even considered by most fans. On Sunday we've got the chance to watch what looks like being a great game at the London Stadium. Tickets are only £5 but you're advised to buy in advance as only a small section of the ground will be open

Kent Senior Trophy First RoundCray Valley PM v Fisher @3pm - if it's a non-league game you're after then this is the best on offer as two sides from the SCEFL begin their quests for county cup glory

FA Women's Premier League CupCrystal Palace v Lewes @2pm - the teams who are third and second in the league meet in the cup in the standout women's game of the day. The match will be played at Bromley's ground

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

About Me

I'm a QPR fan and follower of Harrow Borough in the Isthmian League.
In 2010 I set up Non-League Day to help promote semi-professional and grassroots football. I'm hoping that TLFG will help provide a similar boost for football clubs around the capital.
I also worked at BBC Sport for 10 years before it relocated to Salford but decided not to go, such was my love of London.